The simmer who cried update.

[strangetomato]

So, I hope I don't make a liar of myself, but I really might post the next update in the next couple of days, or at least before the weekend is over. The second half of chapter 26 grew too large for a single livejournal post (no real surprise there - it seems like I do that all of the time lately), so I broke it roughly in half. The next section should be easy to complete, here and there.

Now if only my second job wasn't taking up all of my evenings. I'm an usher at the local theatre, which is great, but it gets extra busy in the summer. It's the season for theatre festivals, don't you know. I really can't complain, since it's the easiest, most entertaining job I've ever had (which is why I keep it in addition to my other job), but I'm working the same show for the next five evenings in a row. The SAME show. *snicker* I can either laugh or cry, so I may as well laugh. At least I'll get some quality thinking time. I've concocted many a Strangetown plot in that theatre. It provides just the right blend of mental stimulation (especially if it's musical) and creative boredom.

Yeah, that's right... creative boredom. I'll bet you didn't realize this hidden benefit to living in a tiny town, where nothing much happens.

Comments

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

That's too bad. Who says you can't draw with your markers and listen to the sermon at the same time, right? You could draw scenes from the sermon.

That reminds me of another thing I did when I was bored in church. I used to look at the illustrations in the Good News bible. Some of them had tiny animals hidden throughout the picture, and I'd try to find them all.

Oh, I love your Jack icon, by the way. He's a cutie.

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

It was all about appearances. She probably didn't really care if I drew during church, but she did care about what people might say about her parenting. :p

I used to look at the bible illustrations, too. That was acceptable, because it looked like reading scripture. Or I'd read the creepy stories in the Old Testament, the ones where God sends the Israelites to slaughter other tribes. I used to try to find the worst stuff. And I was always fighting a headache and nausea from all the perfume and hairspray. I hated going to church, but we went twice on Sunday and on Wednesday nights, too.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

It's always about appearances with church, isn't it? I'm sure that's the only reason anyone does it. Oh yeah, right... and to save your soul. Can't forget that, now, can we? ;)

I went through a teenage rebellion phase where I refused to go to church (I was flirting with alternative religions, and other embarrassingly teenage things), and I'm sure that Mom was mostly upset because people would talk about her and ask her about me. After a while, I just start going again, just to keep the peace, but I never go on my own time.

My SO's story is funnier. He used to say he was going to the evening mass (he's catholic) as a teen, and then he'd take the car and drive to the beach for an hour instead. He never bought into the church thing, even as a child, but I went through a period where I did try to get it to work for me.

There are some really good stories in the bible. I read a comic book version as a child, and it was awesome. I'd love to get a copy of that again.

Three church services a week? I thought one was rough. I once did the whole "holy week" thing at easter time, though, and went every night of the week. That was back in the height of my religious phase, when I used to lead the youth services in my church. Oh, how things have changed...

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

I think for a lot of people it's about appearances, but also the social network. Belonging to a church gives you a group of ready-made acquaintances, and plenty to talk about (like other people's wayward daughters *grin*). So appearances and the social aspect are all tied together.

This isn't to deride anyone's sincere faith, either. I just don't happen to have it.

Alternative religions, eh? Were you Wiccan? I was, for a while in my 20s. *lol* I never really got into the whole ritual aspect of it, though. The few group things I went to, felt too much like organized religion to me. Eventually I realized that the parts I liked best were cribbed from eastern religions, and I moved on.

There are indeed some great stories in the bible. All kinds of adventure and intrigue. I'd love to see that comic book version.

[pixelcurious.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love your Jack icon, by the way. He's a cutie.

Thanks! I really need to bring him into a story sometime. He has this whole life in my head (he was a character in an unfinished novel, long before he was a sim). Though he didn't acquire black eyes until he became a sim. ^_^

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I'm considering your Jack for my story too. I had a vague idea of where he might work as a side character, so you never know when he'll pop up. I think he's really great.